Weekend Winners: Molinari, Park, Toms, Noren Score Trophies

What a weekend! It started with Alex Noren’s surprise win in France – as leader after leader crashed and burned, and ended in Colorado with a clutch three-hole close by David Toms to claim his maiden title on the senior circuit.

In between, Italy’s Francesco Molinari lapped the field at the Quicken Loans for his first PGA Tour trophy, while Korean superstar Sung Hyun Park completed a final-round comeback with a playoff win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Here’s a roundup:

PGA TOUR

MOLINARI MORTGAGES VICTORY AT QUICKEN LOANS WITH FINAL-ROUND 62

Francesco Molinari of Italy smiles with his caddie Pello Iguaran as they walk on the 18th fairway during the final round of the Quicken Loans National at TPC Potomac on July 01, 2018 in Potomac, Maryland. Credit: Getty Images/Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR

It might not have been the strongest field, but Francesco Molinari closed like a champion at TPC Potomac.

With a bogey-free 8-under 62, the long-time European Tour star from Italy finally landed in the winner’s circle for a PGA Tour event, transmuting a 54-hole co-lead into an 8-shot romp at the Quicken Loans National.

NOREN WINS AS SUNDAY LEADERS COLLAPSE IN FRANCE

Sweden’s Alex Noren tees off on the 9th hole during the final round of the 2018 Open de France at Le Golf National in Paris, France. Credit: Getty Images/Tony Marshall

Alex Noren birdied two of his final three holes at Le Golf National to claim his first win of the season at the HNA Open de France.

Entering the day seven shots off the pace, the Swede turned in 34 to remain well behind a handful on the leaderboard. But as 54-hole leader Marcus Kinhult was struggling to start his Sunday round, Noren quietly carded birdies on Nos. 12, 16, and 18 to reach 7-under par, two shots back of then leader Julian Suri.

A nice score, but, surely, Noren’s 7 under wouldn’t hold up – not with Suri at 9 under, or stars like Rahm at 8 under or Garcia at 6 under, all with seven-plus holes to go, right? Wrong.

One by one they fell by the wayside. Rahm ended his day with a triple on the 12th; Garcia joined his compatriot with back-to-back bogeys on 12 and 13. Kinhult then officially killed his chances with a bogey-par-double bogey stretch on Nos. 13-15.

The American Suri joined the carnage with a bogey on the par-4 15th and, while holding a one-shot advantage, then dunked his ball in the water on his approach to 18, leading to a double bogey. The three late lost shots sent Suri home with a co-runner-up finish, alongside Russell Knox who sizzled on Sunday with a 65 to claim one of the four tickets to Carnoustie.

Also at T2 was Chris Wood, who was in the final pairing with Kinhult, and was the last man standing between Noren and victory.

The long-bombing Englishman was even-par on the day and clinging to the lead at 8-under par through 14 holes. But like Suri, and Kinhlt before him, Wood collapsed under the bright lights, carding bogeys on Nos. 15 and 17 to drop to 6 under. A final-hole par by Wood handed Noren his second Rolex Series title in 13 months.

PARK OVERCOMES FOUR-SHOT DEFICIT TO WIN SECOND MAJOR AT KPMG WOMEN’S PGA

Sung Hyun Park celebrates a chip in on the 16th hole during the final round of the 2018 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer, Illinois. Credit: Getty Images/Scott Halleran

South Korean star Sung Hyun Park posted a final-round 3-under 69 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club and then edged Nasa Hataoka and So Yeon Ryu in a playoff to capture the 2018 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Starting the day four back of overnight leader Ryu, the 24-year old Park was flawless, finishing her final day in Chicago with three birdies en route to a four-day score of 10-under par.

After a 20-foot birdie on the 16th by Ryu, it seemed like Park’s flawless effort would be for naught, as the 27-year old Korean went up two with two to play. But an errant tee shot by Ryu on the par-3 17th found the water, leading to a costly double bogey, and a three-way logjam on top.

On the first sudden-death hole, No. 18, Hataoka was eliminated as the two Koreans made birdie. Playing the par-4 16th for playoff hole No. 2, Ryu was away and slid her 20-foot birdie putt just to the left of the cup.

Park didn’t miss hers, and when it dropped the normally stoic Korean broke down in tears.

TOMS CLOSE STRONG TO CAPTURE MAIDEN SENIOR TITLE

David Toms lifts the Francis Ouimet trophy after winning the U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor on July 1, 2018 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Credit: Getty Images/Robert Laberge

David Toms shot a final-round 72 on The Broadmoor’s East Course to capture his first Champions Tour title at the U.S. Senior Open.

On a day when just three players in the entire field finished in the red – and just barely, the key to Sunday for the senior set in Colorado Springs was survival. And that’s exactly what Toms did as the former LSU star offset two bogeys with a pair of birdies, while adding 14 pars, highlighted by two clutch par-4s on Nos. 17 and 18 to close out a one-stroke victory.

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